Transcript: NewsCenter Podcast

May 27, 2026

Good day, and welcome to the Fairfax County NewsCenter podcast. Coming up, learn about a review of the Tysons Office Land Use Category within the Comprehensive Plan, strokes, snakes and ticks. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Tysons community is invited to help shape the future of certain areas currently designated for office use as Fairfax County kicks off a new planning study. The Department of Planning and Development has launched a holistic review of the Tysons Office Land Use Category within the Comprehensive Plan—the county’s guide for land use and development decisions. Specifically, the study will focus on office designated areas generally located along the edges of Tysons, including areas near the Capital Beltway, Dulles Toll Road, south of Old Courthouse Road and the MITRE campus. While these sections are currently designated for office use, the study is evaluating a broader mix of potential uses, including residential and mixed-use development. New recommendations will also consider updated guidance for transportation, parks and open space, environmental sustainability and urban design. Community insight, combined with staff analysis, will be used to update the relevant sections of the Tysons Urban Center portion of the Comprehensive Plan. All who visit, live or work in Tysons are encouraged to participate and help guide how these areas develop over the coming years. Community members are invited to:

• Take the Community Survey and share your thoughts on future land use changes and improvements. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and will close on Sunday, June 14, at 11:59 p.m.
• Stay Informed: Visit the project webpage to learn more about the study’s scope and view the designated area map.

Community feedback is vital to ensure that Tysons continues to evolve as a vibrant, mixed-use urban center. Community meetings are planned for the summer as the planning study continues.

Strokes — brain damage caused by a lack of blood flow — are the number one cause of long-term disability in the U.S with one in six people being affected. Fairfax County has been proclaimed as Stroke Smart — an initiative from the Virginia Department of Health that aims to reduce disability and death from strokes by educating you to recognize the signs of a stroke and to be confident calling 9-1-1 immediately when necessary. Signs and symptoms of a stroke can come and go. They can be different for different people, and a second stroke suffered after a first may look different. If you have even one of the symptoms below do not wait to think it will pass. 

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of coordination.
• A droopy smile or an inability to raise one arm.

Treatments to restore blood flow and save the brain are effective but time sensitive. As soon as you spot a stroke, call 9-1-1. The earlier you get to the hospital, the more likely you are to avoid serious health issues. NewsCenter has more. Visit fairfaxcounty.gov/news. 

Fairfax County is home to an array of snake species, most of which are non-venomous and pose no threat to people, such as the Northern water snake. Among the most frequently observed resident snakes are the Central rat snake, Eastern garter snake, Dekay’s brown snake, Northern water snake and Northern ring-necked snake; common and important predators in our ecosystems. These snakes, and others, are beneficial and provide a valuable service in our communities in the way of pest control. Meanwhile, Ticks are active in Fairfax County almost year round, including warm winter days. This guide walks you through various considerations and actions to help prevent tick bites. Lyme disease is still the best known and most common disease spread by ticks in Virginia, but there are others such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis. Factors like weather, habitat and the availability of host animals can affect the tick population from year-to-year and make it hard to predict their numbers. NewsCenter has more information about snakes and ticks. Visit fairfaxcounty.gov/news for more information.

Finally, subscribe to “Weekender,” the county’s weekend arts and entertainment e-newsletter. “Weekender” brings together offerings from around the county and delivers that info right to your inbox. Don’t miss out on fun happenings throughout the county. Subscribe to “Weekender” at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/weekender.

That’s all for this NewsCenter podcast. Thanks for listening. For more information about the topics in this podcast and for news updates, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/news. Follow the NewsCenter podcast on soundcloud.com/fairfaxcounty and our podcasts webpage, fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts. You can also listen 24/7 online to Fairfax County Government Radio at fairfaxcounty.gov/radio. If you have questions, call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov. The NewsCenter podcast is produced by the Fairfax County, Va., Government.